Biography of Sailen Manna: Great footballer of Bengal

Sailendra Nath Manna is famous to us by Sailen Manna. He was born on 1st September 1924 in Batra, a place in Howrah District of West Bengal. He started playing football at 14 years of age. In meantime, he passed graduation from Surendra Nath College and got a job in Geological Survey of India. But Sailen Manna never broke his attachment with football. At 16 years of age, in 1940 he joined Howrah Union club. He used to play in position of Defender. He also represented Calcutta University in Inter-University Football tournament. Later, in 1942 he joined Mohun Bagan Club. He spent his entire life of his football career in Mohun Bagan Club. He served this club for 19 years and even captained it from 1950 to 1955. He gifted Mohun Bagan 5 Durand Trophy and 6 IFA Shiekd Trophy. It is said that he didn't take any fees for playing in Mohun Bagan. He also led and triumphed his state West Bengal to won Quadrangular Championship from 1952 to 1954.
He had been a great defender and also a great captain. Even English Football Association, in the Yearbook of 1953, honoured Sailen Manna as one of the best 10 Football Captains in the world. He played for India in 1948 London Olympics and led India in 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He also won South-East Asian Quadrangular couple of times. He lead India to win the first Asian Games gold in 1951. Later he also coached Mohun Bagan in 1961 and held the post of many administrative posts of the club.
Sailen Mannar received Padma Shree Awards in 1971. He also awarded with 'Mohun Bgan Ratna' in the year in 2001. All India Football Federation awarded him the title of Footballer of the Millennium.
This famous footballer is a Reformist of Indian Football. He was not only a great footballers, but also a great administrator. The enjoyment which he gifted to us ,Bengalis, people of West Bnegal will debted to Sailen Manna.